Door holder



Feb. 14, 1950 B. s. BERNHARD DooR HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 4,1945 ATTORNES [Wl/lll 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 um. NW

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uw@ www Feb. 14, 1950 Filed oct. 4, 1945 @N km Patented Feb. 14, 1950UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR HOLDER necticut Application October 4,1945, Serial No. 620,287

8 Claims.

This invention relates to door holders.

In many instances, more particularly in hospitals, ofces, publicbuildings and the like, it is often desirable to have a door held opento provide free access, avoid slamming, etc. Various forms of door stopsand holders are known but for the most part they are subject to one ormore objections; for example, many of them require inconvenientmanipulations, others are unsightly or involve complicated and expensivemechanisms.

It is an object of the present invention to provide simple and eifectivemeans for holding a door in open position.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide improveddoo-r holding means that come into play automatically by the mere act ofmoving the door to a predetermined open position and are automaticallyreleasable at will.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the combinations, features, details of construction andarrangements of parts which will first be described in connection withthe accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a door and doorway having associatedtherewith a holder constructed in accordance with the invention, thedoor being shown in open position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same on an enlarged scale, the doorbeing shown also, by broken lines, in near closed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing a different position of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view taken on the broken line 'I-l of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. l and 2 illustrate ya door I I hinged,as at I2, in a door frame I3.

There is provided an arm or holding link for connecting the door anddoor frame and means whereby one end of the link is so mounted as toextend outwardly when the door is open and fold into the doorway whenthe door is closed. To this end, as here shown as an example, mortisedinto the underside of the top of the door frame is a plate I4 whichcarries a stud I5 on which is pivoted one end of the arm or holding linkI6. This end .nf the link has a pivotal movement only. The

other end, which may be termed the outer end, is pivotally and slidablyconnected with the door.

In the embodiment here illustrated as an example, there is a recess IIformed in the top edge of the door in which is mounted a track in theform of a channel piece I8 the sides of which have inturned flanges I9.The part I 8 forms a channel Bil and the anges define a top slot 2|. Thechannel .ZIJ is closed at the ends by abutment blocks 22, 23 secured inplace by pins 24. The channel unit is secured to a door by screws 25which pass through the end blocks 22, 23.

Movable in channel 2li is a slide unit comprising a short channel piece26. The top of this slide element is rabbeted to form shouldersunderlying anges I9, the narrowed portion of the slide riding in slot 2|Slide 26 carries a stud 2l on which is pivoted the outer end of holdinglink I6. When the door is closed, a position approached by the brokenline view in Fig. 2, slide 26 is at the far end of channel 20, i. e. theend away from the door hinge, and link IB lies over the top edge of thedoor, paralleling the same. In this position, as will be apparent, thevarious parts of the holding device are entirely concealed from View. Asthe door is opened, slide 26 moves inwardly of channel .20, the outerend of link I6 swinging in an arc centered on its inner pivot I5.

There is provided means for releasably latching the open door againstclosing movement, such means operating automatically when the doorattains -a predetermined open position. This may conveniently beaccomplished by a stop shoulder yand a follower or contact member, oneof which is stationary, the other movable, and one of which isyieldable. Although capable of various constructions, in that hereillustrated as an example, below channel piece I 8 is a supplementalrecess 28 formed in the door. In this recess is mounted a housing 29secured to the channel piece as by rivets 30. Mounted in the housing, ina manner later described, is a dog in the form of a latching block 3Ihaving a projecting cam portion normally extending into channel 20through a suitable opening in the bottom of channel piece I8. One face32 of this cam portion, the one facing to the right as viewed in Figure3, has a relatively gentle rise. The other or detent face 33 has arelatively abrupt rise and serves as a stop shoulder.

At each end of slide 2t and extending across the channel thereof is ahalf-round 36 the ends of which take into holes in the side walls of theslide. Midway of the slide is a latch comprising a cylindrical contactelement 31 having squared ends 38 slidable in slots 39 in the side wallsof the slide. Overlying contact element 31 and underlying the twohalf-rounds 36 is a leaf spring 42, its ends being slightly curved toIembrace the half-rounds. The top flat faces of the half-rounds areslightly recessed as at 43 (Figure 6) to receive the ends of tensioningscrews 44.

When the door starts to open, slide 26 moves toward the left as Viewedin Figs. 3 and 4. As the door approaches predetermined open position,the latch 31 rides up the gentle or slow face 32 of the dog or latchingblock 3i, yielding upwardly against its spring 42. As soon as latch 3'!passes the peak of latching block 3l, it snaps down behind the abruptface 33 of block 3l under spring action. This face now serves as a stopshoulder for latch element 3l and so tends to prevent reverse movementof the slide unit, whereby link i6 firmly holds the door againstclosing. The tension of spring 42 is sufficient to hold the parts inthis latched position against ordinary `wind pressure or any othercasual force which might tend to cause the door to shut. When, however,the door` is firmly pushed or pulled by a person desiring to close thedoor, such force is sufficient to overcome the spring pressure.Thereupon follower 3l rides up stop 4shoulder 33 and over the peak, thusfreeing the slide unit for reverse, door-closing movement.

The effective force of spring 42 may be regulated by manipulation ofscrews 44.

There is provided means for cushioning the .stopping of the door on itsopening movement and means for preventing opening o-f the door much pastthe above described latched position. This double function may beconveniently accomplished by a yieldable bumper. In the embodiment ofthe invention here shown as an example, spaced from end block 22 is aslidable bumper block 46. Confined between these two blocks is a coiledspring 4l. The outer end of block 45 is faced with a Contact plate 43 ofany suitable material. The recess in which spring 41 is located may beenclosed in a sheet metal channel, the top 49 closing the top opening inchannel i3 and the legs extending down inside the channel I8.

Theparts are so arranged that as the door comes into the position inwhich it is to be latched against closing, the end of slide 26 engagescontact plate 4S of bumper block 45. During the dna-i portion of themovement of the slide, bumper block is displaced slightly against itsspring 4l, thus providing a cushioning action against a too abruptstopping of the door. At the same time, bumper block 46 serves as a stopto prevent opening of the door much past the predetermined position.

With the construction described, the door, as respects any casual forcessuch as air currents etc., is firmly held in the desired open position.

It may sometimes be desirable to use the door without any automaticlatching feature. To this end, the invention in its entirety includesmeans whereby the latching means may be rendered inactive. This may beconveniently accomplished by withdrawing the latching block 3l out ofthe path of the slide unit. As here illustrated as an example, latchingblock 3i is adjustably mounted in housing E5. One end l of this housingis slanting and riding thereon is the slanting end of latching block 3i.The other end of the block is ilat and is engaged by a movable follower53.

T hs latter is, in turn, engaged by a rotary cam or eccentric 54 mountedon a shaft 55. This shaft extends through the side of housing 29 andthrough the door. On its outer end is mounted an operating knob 56.

Fig. 3 shows the latching block in operating position with its stopshoulder extending into channel 26 in the path 'of the slide unit. It isheld in that position by virtue of the fact that the high point of camor eccentric 54 is engaging follower 53 to force the same against thelatching block. When it is desired to render the latching meansinactive, knob 56 is actuated to give shaft 55 a half turn, thusrotating cam 54 through an angle of degrees. As the cam rotates, folower53 moves to the left, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4., and latching block 3lmoves to the left and down, from the position of Fig. 3 to the positionof Fig. 4. In this adjusted position the peak of the latching block iswithdrawn out oi' the path of the slide unit in channel 20. Thus thereis no automatic latching and the door is freely closable.

When it is desired again to utilize the automatic latching feature, knob56 is actuated to give cam 54 a reverse half turn. The action of the camagainst follower 53 forces latching block 3i to the right, as viewed inFigs. 3 and 4, and the contact of its slanting face 52 against theslanting end 5l of housing 29 causes the latching block to be cammedupwardly. This oblique movement returns the latching block to activeposition (Fig. 3) with its stop shoulder extending into the path of theslide unit.

The operation of the door holding device as a whole will be apparentfrom the above without further description.

I claim:

1. In a door holder, a track, a slide slidable on said track, an armattached to said slide, spring pressed latch means carried by saidslide, a dog for engagement by said latch means, said dog comprising ablock having a camming surface and a detent surface, and cam means onsaid block and fixedly related to said track for Adirecting said blockinto operative position for engagement by said latch means, and manuallyoperable cam means for moving said block to cause said cam means on saidblock and track to function. l

2. In a door holder, a track, a slide slidable on said track, an armpivotally connected to said slide, a resiliently mounted latch carriedby said slide, a dog housing fixed relatively to said track, a dog insaid housing, said dog and said housing having cam surfaces, wherebywhen said dog moves in one direction said cam surfaces will serve todirect said dog into operative position for engagement by said latch,and means for moving said dog in said direction and holding the samerigidly in xed position'.

3. In a door holder, a track, a slide slidable on saidV track, latchmeans carried by said slide, an arm pivotally connected to said slide, adog slidably mounted on said track for engagement by said latch, camsurface means on said dog and xedly related to said track for directingsaid dog into operative position when said dog is moved in onedirection, and cam means for sliding said dog in said direction.

e'. In a door holder, a track, a slide slida'ble on said track, an armconnected to said slide, a latch carried by said slide, a dog housingcarried by said track, a dog in said housing, said housing and doghaving. coacting camming surfaces for directing a part of said dog intosaid track in position to be engaged by said latch when said dog ismoved in one direction, and a rotatable cam manually operated from theoutside of said housing for moving said dog in said direction.

5. In a door holder, a channel track, a slide comprising a channelinverted relatively to and slidable in said track channel, a portion ofthe base of said slide channel being exposed through the open side oisaid track channel, an arm pivotally connected to said base, a latchmember extending transversely across and guided for movement in the legsof said inverted channel, a plate spring engaging said latch and a' pairof adjusting screws on opposite sides of said latch for adjusting thestress on said spring, and dog means carried by said track andengageable by said latch.

6. In a door holder, a track, a slide slidable on said track, an armpivotally connected to said slide, a latch carried by said slide, ahousing carried by said track, a dog in said housing, said dog andhousing having cooperative surfaces for directing said dog intooperative position for engagement with said latch when said dog is movedin one direction, a cam member in said housing for moving said dog insaid direction and holding the same in said operative position, and amanually operated knob at the outside of said housing for rotating saidcam for the purpose set forth.

7. In a door holder, a track, a slide slidably guided by said track, anarm pivoted on said slide,

a movable latch carried by said slide, a plate spring supported onopposite sides of said latch and extending over said latch for urgingthe latter toward a given position relative to said slide, which given.position said latch is to seek to assume when latched, and a dog forengagement by said latch, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a door holder, a track, a slide slidably guided by said track, anarm pivoted on said slide, a movable latch carried by said slide, aplate spring supported on opposite sides of said latch and extendingover said latch for urging the latter toward a given position relativeto said slide, which given position said latch is to seek to assume whenlatched, adjusting means effective at one of said opposite points ofsupport for adjusting the stress on said plate spring, and a dog forengagement by said latch, for the purpose set forth.

BENJAMIN S. BERNHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,108,891 Johnson Feb. 22, 19382,168,453 Sibley Aug. 8, 1939 2,277,316 Garrison Mar. 24, 1942 2,289,092Bernhard July 7, 1942

